Page 33 of The Dance Deception
I listen to them swapping stories about their weeks on the ten-minute walk to the studio. They’re both full of praise for their instructors – they haven’t had a single cross word.
‘Are you okay, Kate?’ Beth asks as we approach the entrance. ‘You’re very quiet.’
And I know I can’t keep my secret any longer. ‘I have a confession to make.’
‘I knew there was something,’ she says. ‘What’s going on?’
When I stop walking they both turn round to face me.
‘I’m not dancing with Merle any more,’ I blurt out. ‘I’ve switched partners with Emilia. I haven’t seen Merle since last Saturday. I’m kind of shitting myself. I don’t know how he’s going to react to seeing me again.’
‘Whoa!’ Beth exclaims.
‘That’s big,’ Tammy nods, wide-eyed.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I was under strict instructions to keep it secret,’ I explain. ‘But you’re going to find out in a minute anyway. So there it is. I’m dancing with Aleksis now. Merle is with Emilia. Oh, and I met Merle’s wife. She came to one of my rehearsals. She’s Aleksis’s sister.’
‘What?’ they shriek in unison.
‘Holy crap!’ Tammy adds. ‘You don’t do things by halves, do you?’
Beth shakes her head in disbelief. ‘No wonder you’re on edge. What a nightmare. How’s Aleksis about it all? I mean, is he all right? With you?’
‘It’s complicated,’ I shrug. ‘But we’re getting by.’
Tammy still looks gobsmacked. ‘His sister? What the hell?’
‘She doesn’t want us not to do our best on the show because of her, or because of Merle,’ I explain. ‘She gave us her blessing.’
‘That’s insane,’ Tammy says.
‘Tell me about it.’
Before I can share any more details with them, Olivia holds the door open and looks pointedly at us. ‘Are you coming in, ladies? You’re among the last.’
‘Try not to worry,’ Tammy says quietly. ‘We’ll be right there if Merle starts any funny business.’
‘Thanks, I really appreciate that.’
We follow Olivia down the now-familiar corridors toFire on the Dance Floor’s reception area and as soon as we walk in, I scan the room for Merle. I can’t help it. And there he is, standing by the drinks machine with Emilia, his arm draped around her shoulders. My heart leaps into my throat.
Last Saturday, he didn’t so much as glance in my direction in the reception room. Today he’s hugging Emilia in front of everyone, and looking pretty smug about it too.
Does it mean they’re sleeping together? I know I shouldn’t care, but I hate the thought they might be. Seeing themlooking so close reminds me how much I wanted that for myself, but I never got the chance. It doesn’t seem fair.
Thankfully, I’m distracted by Aleksis coming over to say hello. He greets everyone then tells me to remember I have nothing to fear today.
‘Ah, that’s so sweet,’ Beth says. If only she knew what he meant.
I turn away from her and Tammy and quietly ask him, ‘Does Merle know about our special arrangement today?’
I’d forgotten to ask before.
‘He doesn’t, and nor must anyone else, okay? I’d suggest you just stay out of his way today, and I’ll be doing the same. Otherwise, I’ll probably thump him.’
I realise I haven’t given much thought to how hard this must be for Aleksis, too, and I feel a rush of sympathy for him. It makes me want to squeeze his arm, like Lucy does to comfort me, but I hold back. That’s not the place we’re in.
‘I never liked him much,’ Aleksis says, ‘and I like him a lot less now. But my sister wants me to keep out of it. She prefers to fight her own battles.’
